February 2016
Ending Life without Parole Sentences for Youth
Each year in the United States, children as young as 13 are sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison without any opportunity for release. Currently, there about 2,570 children sentenced to life without parole in the US despite a global consensus that children cannot be held to the same standards of responsibility as adults and recognition that children are entitled to special protection and treatment.
In 2012, the U.S Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life without parole sentences for youth were unconstitutional by labeling it as cruel an usual punishment. On January 25th, 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court gave hope to thousands of individuals when they declared that Miller v Alabama is retroactively effective—meaning that life without parole for children can apply in only the rarest of cases.
Eliminating juvenile life without parole does not suggest guaranteed release of these offenders. Rather, it provides an opportunity for review of the defendant's’ case after a reasonable period of incarceration in which the unique circumstances of each defendant, previous crime, and current actions will be considered.
Each year in the United States, children as young as 13 are sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison without any opportunity for release. Currently, there about 2,570 children sentenced to life without parole in the US despite a global consensus that children cannot be held to the same standards of responsibility as adults and recognition that children are entitled to special protection and treatment.
In 2012, the U.S Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life without parole sentences for youth were unconstitutional by labeling it as cruel an usual punishment. On January 25th, 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court gave hope to thousands of individuals when they declared that Miller v Alabama is retroactively effective—meaning that life without parole for children can apply in only the rarest of cases.
Eliminating juvenile life without parole does not suggest guaranteed release of these offenders. Rather, it provides an opportunity for review of the defendant's’ case after a reasonable period of incarceration in which the unique circumstances of each defendant, previous crime, and current actions will be considered.
Child nicotine poisoning prevention signed into law
On Jan. 28, President Barack Obama signed the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 into law. The law requires the use of child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers used for e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, e-cigarette devices and liquid nicotine exposures reported to poison centers jumped from 271 cases in 2011 to 3,067 cases in 2015. Liquid nicotine products are often sold in containers without any child-proofing and come in bright colors and candy flavors. This makes them attractive to children, which could lead to accidental exposure and ingestion. Liquid nicotine can be absorbed quickly through the skin as well as ingested, and even very small doses can be lethal to small children.
On Jan. 28, President Barack Obama signed the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 into law. The law requires the use of child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers used for e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, e-cigarette devices and liquid nicotine exposures reported to poison centers jumped from 271 cases in 2011 to 3,067 cases in 2015. Liquid nicotine products are often sold in containers without any child-proofing and come in bright colors and candy flavors. This makes them attractive to children, which could lead to accidental exposure and ingestion. Liquid nicotine can be absorbed quickly through the skin as well as ingested, and even very small doses can be lethal to small children.
Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approves bipartisan child nutrition bill
On Jan. 19, by unanimous consent, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee passed legislation to reauthorize federal child nutrition programs, including the school breakfast and lunch programs. Now, the full Senate has to support the measure and the House of Representatives will need to take a similar bipartisan approach to reauthorizing these important programs.
The Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act would maintain the major nutrition-related standards for sodium, whole grains and increased fruits and vegetables in school lunches established under the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. It would also require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to revise guidelines for sodium and whole grain content to provide any struggling schools with additional time to meet the sodium standards and flexibility for whole grains. The bill would also support efforts to provide adequate kitchen equipment, technical assistance and training to school districts in need.
On Jan. 19, by unanimous consent, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee passed legislation to reauthorize federal child nutrition programs, including the school breakfast and lunch programs. Now, the full Senate has to support the measure and the House of Representatives will need to take a similar bipartisan approach to reauthorizing these important programs.
The Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act would maintain the major nutrition-related standards for sodium, whole grains and increased fruits and vegetables in school lunches established under the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. It would also require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to revise guidelines for sodium and whole grain content to provide any struggling schools with additional time to meet the sodium standards and flexibility for whole grains. The bill would also support efforts to provide adequate kitchen equipment, technical assistance and training to school districts in need.